Ltfmographefl



3 Sheets-Sheet l.

L. DART. Automatic Time-Table Annunciator. No. 196,637. n Piitented Oct. 30, I877.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. DART. Automatic Time-Table Annunciator.

No. 196,637. Tfiaiented .Oct. 30,1877.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

L. DART. Automatic Time-Table Annunciator.

No. I96 637. Patented Oct. 30 I877.

mar. SPRIN F E D; MASS, ASSIGNOR 0 H M EL HORACE rr ew t BU L K. 1 1 $4311? PLA E- or iN AUTQMJAT-IQ TIME-TABLE ANNUNQIATQRS- Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 196,637, (la-ted October 30, 187 7 application filed March 14, .1877.

ib all .whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEWIS DART, of Spring- F ,field, county of Hampden andState of Massa: ehusetts, have invented a new combination of mechanical devices, which I call an Autonaticfllignefllable Annunciator, which is fully set forth in the following specification anddrawin gs.

theluse .of railroad and transportation companies, hotels,.scl 1 oo1s, or any Iparties requiring the annoiuicement of asystematic schedule or timetable, an instrument capable of being so adjusted as to regularlyannounce any desired programme. Saidinstrinnent maybe adjusted t nce events inrapid succession, and as frequently as may be .desired.

1 11 the .drau riugs, (which consist of three plates and twelve 1i gures,) Figure 1, Plate '1,is a front elevation of the instrument, showing :itsexterior parts. Fig. 2, Plate 2, is a front elevation with the hands, dial, and reversible slats removed, showing the interior working partsas seen from that side. Fig.3, Plate 3, is a rear. elevation, showing the working parts ,oftheinterior as seen from that side. Fig.4, ate-3, is aface .viewof disk d, train 1),r1g'- {3 Plate 3 ,showing the arrangement of its time dividing arms (2 upon its face, and end-view of nut'el 5, Plate 3, is .a vertical-edge yiewof dislc d, Fig. 3, train 1) with its timedividing arms all grouped .into one point, in which position they would cause the instru nentto nake but oneindication intwenty-four fllOllIS, and the groove on nut (1*. Fig. 6, Plate 3, is;a;face view of one ofthe arms (1* of diskrl detached from the disk, and showing slot 0 cut onits edge. Fig. "7,;Plate I), is a vertical e view of f one ofjarinsd, showing its pin 0. g. .8, Plate *1, :is a longitudinal viewof one of the )iiLbai-s (1' Fi 2' Plate 2 showin 'the .7arrari ge nentv of pinholes d and one of pins (F -in;thebar, andonepartlyliited out. Fig.9

. Plate 1," is a face view of disk'b. attached to the side of main gear-wheelin train A, Fig. 3, Plate 3, showing theslotsb in itsperiphery,

,and the closin g latches a Fig. 10, Plate 2, is

an elevation of ,the riineheadB on skeleton .cylinderdfi", Fig.2, showing the adjustingscrews-h for piston Fig. 2, Plate-2. Fig.11,j

"fllheobject of my ;i nvention is to prowlde, for j Plate 3, is an.elevationofone of pedals a", Fig. 2, Plate 2, its upright rod 00, horizontal rody, and sector g. Fi -.12, Plate -1 ,is a fiat-side view of oneiof sectors g.

In Fig. 1, Plate 1, A is an .ordinaryclockdial. a a are ordinary clock-hands, which are moved by mechanism, hereinafterto be described, to any required position over .dial A,

eitherbackward or forward. Surrounding the lial A are lettered borders a c cflso placed for the purpose of giving information relative to the indications of the instrument. 1-3 B 13 are reversible sign-slats pivoted at each end, and upon the sidesof which are shown words or sentences for giving information intended to be shown by the operations of the instrument, three only of which are shown; butthey may be multiplied indefinitely,or to an extent sufficient to announce any numberof trains that a road may wish to run, andto state their character and destination. Qn the right-hand end of slats B 13 Bare shown pivoted pinions c c c, which engage in geared sectors set abehind ,then and by which the slats are reversed.

;In Fig.2, Plate 2, A is a train of geared wheels, "which are caused .to ,revolve by mechanisms hereinafter described, and which are so arranged as toimpart the requisite rotary motion to the handsxda Fig. 1, Plate l, and

periphery of said heads.

(I d. d d are movable .pedaLpin bars, attached to the edgesof bars 13 by a flat spring, g, and are prevented from moving laterallyby letting their ends rest in the topportion of the slots in heads B B in which are placed and held bars 13 :Bars (1 (1' Z (W are perforated .with .pin-

holes d equidistant wih the position of the pedals 90 ar 00 underthe cylinder.

in bi in ars d d' d" d", the oints ofwhich engage upon and press down pedals a: a: at. Pins d" fit loosely in bars (1 d" d (1",.

' oy inder-head B has an outwardly-project ing rim, through which, from the inner side, are put adjusting-screws h, one opposite the end-ofeachofthebarsB.

H is a narrow plate under cylinder-head B, and is attached to the top of a piston, i, the bottom end of the latter being slotted. Y

[n shelf L, under cylinder-head 'B, is set a metal socket, j, in which piston i has a reciprocating vertical movement.

K is a lever, hung near the shelf L, having ashort arm on its lower end, the end of which engages in the slotted end of piston i, and to its upper end is attached a flexible rack-arm, h, having. a rack .cut on its edge, which engages in a pinion on one of the arbors in the train A, Fig. 2, Plate 2. The long arm h has a hook-shaped projection, a, bending upon its end nearlever K. On lever K is a hook, 1.

Spiral spring r, being attached to o and 1 serves to keep the rack on arm h closely against the pinion in. train A, so as to prevent lost motion. Spiral spring f is attached to lever K and to the case, so as to cause lever K to recede after having moved forward to-- ward train A. v

0: is an arm adjustable against lever K by a jscrew,P, Plate 2, Fig. 2, outside. of the case,

for the purpose of arbitrarily adjusting the lands-on dial A. v

. so a: are horizontal pedal-plates, attached to the. top ends of vertical rods w"a; x, which pass down through shelf L. Under this shelf are three. horizontal rods, 3 y y, suitably supported at each end so as to permit a rotary motion. On rods 31 y y arearms mmm, to which the bottom ends of vertical rods w w w are loosely attached by pins. I

- On one end of each of the'rods 1 y y are placed geared sectors q, which engage in the pivoted pinions c c c, and so reverse the signslats B B B by the rotary motion of rods y y y. The geared sectors (1 terminate on the rear ends in a slim spring, the end of which is attached to the case to give a reverse motion to the sectors to that given them by the rods 3/ y in descending, and'so to reverse the slats after the pedal-plates have been released by hepasaage of the pedal-pins from their sur- In Fig. 3, Plate 3, A is a train of wheels to anordinary striking-train in an eightrday clockmovement, in which the main gear-wheel a is made toengage in and turn the gear-wheel B on the shaft to cylinder B, Fig. 2, Plate 2.' I t The train A is let off and stopped by the employment of ordinary clock-striking devices in combination with a thin disk, b, which is permanently. attached to the side of main gearwheel a, but setting ed a little from it to allow the stop-lever to drop freely into slots b, Fig. 9, Plate 1, cut in its periphery in lines radiating from its-center. The number of slots cut in disk b is the same as the number of the bars B in cylinder B, Fig. 2, Plate 2that is to say, the number of slots b left open is the same as the numberof operatingba-rs on the cylinder, the distance between the slots being so calculated'that the drop-wire that stops the I train will be held up until cylinderB, Fig. 2,has completed so much of its revolution as maybe necessary to have caused the required indications of the instrument through the medium of the hands upon the dial and the reversible slats. Said slots b in disk b are provided with closing-latches a for the purpose of preventing the action of the drop-wire to stop cylinder B, Fig.2, when there is no pedal-pin bar in it. r v r 1 'D, Fig. 3, Plate 3, is a train of gear-wheels and other devices, combining the peculiar adjustable time-dividing mechanism of the, instrument, and is set in motion and run by an ordinary time-piece movement.

The peculiar devices above alluded to, consist of a disk, 11-, Figs. .3, 4, and 5, Plate 3,- which revolves once in twenty-four hours, and which is attached to a hollow hub. Said hub has a free longitudinal movement upon an arbor, d, Fig. 3, which arbor is revolved by the. above-named time-piece movement through the medium of gear-wheels. Said hollow hub 'is caused to revolve with arbor d by the interposition of an ordinary spline and key between them. Said hollow hub has a thread cut on a portion of its exterior, near its outer end, to receive a nut, d, which has a groove cut around "it to receive the bifurcated end of a lever, n.

Revolvedby disk at are adjustable flat arms 01*, Fig. 4, Plate :3, pierced at one end an placed on arbord, and terminating in pointed ends beyond the outside edge of disk d. Said arms d, the operating number of which should equal the number of operative bars d,

Fig. 8, Platel, on bars B in cylinder B, Fig.

2, Plate 2, are held in any required position against the face .of disk d by the screw-nut d,

after having been adjusted to the requisite time-divisions. Also, attached to the face of each arm at, next to disk d, near the periphery of d, is a short pin, 0, so placed for the purpose of more firmly holding arms d while justing them to diflerent positions on disk 11..

Arms d have cut on one edge, next to pin a, a slot, 0, Fig. 6, Plate 3, to permit of folding the arms (1 all together, as shown in Fig. 5, Plateu3, sothat they will, act as one, it

being necessary for that purpose to provide a place into which each pin can retire as the arms are folded together. 1 v Bifurcated levern, Fig. 3, Plate 3, engages in the end of nut d in the groove cut therein, and has its fulcrum-point at a convenient .point below. Attached to its lower end is a rod, 0, running to the outside of the case, by which lever n is moved, and causes the hollow hub, towhich is attached .disk cl and arms (1*, to move lodgitudinally on arbor cl" for purposes hereinafter to be specified.

Train D, Fig. 3, Plate 3, has attached to it an arbor, z, lying at right c ngles to the edge of disk (I, and hung in suitable bearings, so as to permit it to have an oscillating movement. On this arbor, opposite to the end of arms d on the face of disk d, is a slidecatch, 2, attached to 2 by a screw, and adjustable to or from disk at for the purpose of engaging more or less against the points of the arms (1 so that the points of said arms may lift up against .the end of said slide-catch 2 and so slightlyturn arborz as the points of said arms move up in revolving with disk (I.

On or near the end of arbor 2, toward train A, Fig. 3, Plate 3, is attached a bent elbow-shaped wire, 2', the free end of which extends into train A for the purpose of unlocking the lattertrain.

Horizontal rod 1, Fig. 3,.Plate 3, extends from the outside of the case and into the same, and terminates under train A, where the end of it is attached to an elbow hung on the edge of shelf L. To the other end of the elbow is attached. a vertical trip-wire for moving the.

train arbitrarily.

The operation of the instriunent composed of the before-mentioned parts and devices is as follows, viz: e will suppose, for instance, that it becomes necessary to adjust this instrument to announce the departure of four railwa -trains within any given time. The first operation is to remove the disk d from arbor d'", Fig. 3, train D, Plate ,3, and, after loosening nut d to adjust the points of arms d at the proper time-divisions around the circumference of disk (I, which is done by placing said disk on a proper scale arranged. for this purpose, and, after having done this, screw down nut d and secure them in position. Disk d may then be replaced upon its arbor. Arms (1 may also be adjusted to their proper time-divisions without removing disk (6 from its arbor, but said adjustments can be more rapidly made by removing it. Let the trains be properly wound up. Adjust one of the screws h in cylinder-head B Fig. 10, Plate 2, and Fig. 2, Plate 2, against plate H, so that it shall cause the lever K to-move flexible arm n horizontally, and consequently turn hands a a on dial A to indicate the hour of departure of the firsttrain of the four. Having done so, set off the train of wheels A, Fi 3, Plate 3, by pulling horizontal rod 3 Fig.3, when cylinder B, Fig. 2, Plate 2, will revolve, bringing the next of the screws h over the plate H, which must be adjusted, in the same manner as the first of screws h, to set the hands to the time of the next train, and so on until the adjustments of the four trains are completed. Havingmadethebefore-mentioned adjustments to produce indications at stated times, the next thing to do is to ascertain which of the reversible slats is required to opcrate to announce the character and destination of the first of the four trains and of each train in succession. Haw'ng done this, and having ascertained which of the pedals 00 needs to be depressed in order to reverse the proper slat B, Fig. 1, Plate 1, one of the pins (1 Fig. 2, should be placed in one of the movable pedalpin bars d, Fig. 2, in a pin-hole which shall bring it over the pedal, which should be depressed by the revolution of cylinder B, Fig. 2, Plate 2, so as to reverse the proper indicating-slat, and so on until the slats which will, by the letters and words thereon, give the required information as to the four trains shall all be adjusted so they will be reversed by the action of said pins and pedals upon them. As at present adjusted, the instrument is ready to automatically indicate the time of departure and character and destination of the trains.

We will now watch its automatic operations, beginning with train D, Fig. 3, Plate 3, and it will be found that disk d is carrying in its revolutions the arms (1 which have alreadybeen so adjusted that their points around the periphery of disk (1 mark the requisite time-divisions for the four trains. At the required hour one of the points of arms (1 impinges against the edge of slide-catch 2} on arbor z, train D, Fig. 3, causing arbor z. to rock in its bearings, performing at first a partial unlocking of train A, vFi 3, by the lifting movement of the bent elbow-shaped wire 2 attached to the end of arbor z acting upon the ordinary striking part, unlocking devices in train A.

Shortly after the usual preliminary alarmsound in train A, the point of arm (Z fully lifts up catch 2 and unlocks train A.

The before-described partly and finally complete unlocking of train A is provided for, so that, at the instant train A begins its movements, the unlocking devices in it shall have fallen back to their normal positions, and the stop-levers in train A be unhindered in their operations of dropping into the slots in the edge of disk I), train A, Fig. 3, at'the proper time. If, on the contrary, arm dj should retain its hold too long upon catch 2, the contrary effect would be produced, and train A would not be stopped at the required moment.

The unlocking of train A, Fig. 3, having been accomplished by the action of the devices hereinbefore mentioned, it and cylinder'B, Fig. 2, Plate 2, to which train A is geared, continue to move together until one of the bars B (carrying a bar, d, Fig. 2, in which pinsd? are held) is carried around cylinder B until a pin, (1, is brought to bear vertically .upon one of the pedals a: w a; under said cylinder, thus bearing it down, and with it one of vertical rods m w w. This rod 00, so acted upon, and being connected to one of the horizontal rods 3 y y, Fig. 2,-by arm on, causes rod 3 to rock, and that carries with it one of the geared sectors g, which, being geared into one of the pivoted pinions c c c on the end of reversible slats B B B, Fig. 1, Plate 1, causes, by its rocking movement, one of slats B to reverse, and show upon the side thus brought to view the words printed or written .upon "it. which indicate the character and destinationof the-train to leave next afterthis announee want. when the next train is, unmanned, and the pedal which announced the last train i8 ffl l'iBB, $116 pin d." having 141M011: from it,-the springon the rear e of gearedsector q-ceuses the rod-to which the sector-is attached to rock back-as it was before: the; pedal was: mu down,- and this motion I'G'; verses the at and coneealsthe announcement;

1.-8imnltunwuslywith the reversing of slatB: :the hands a a, Fig. .1, on dial A are-causal? to assume positions which indicate thehour. st-whiehthe, said train should'leave, by the aetion of leverK and flexible n upon. train of wheels A(, Fig. 2, Plate 2, as follows, visiflerews hare placed inthe rim'of-lieadi Bfi-oney lln'der B',-Fig. 2,.in: sline with the bars B, which projeet beyond the fa'ee'of said Asoylinderl! revolves, the'projectingi end-of one of screws h impingesupen plateH. mnderheadBflpres'siug it'down, and with it slotted plates 4', which is-attaehed to its'nu derside, andwhieh moves in socket j in shelf L." lhelowershort arm of leverK, which has its fillerum near the upper side 'of shelf L, projeetsinto the slot in piston i, andwhen plate H is L-l bearing; piston i upon shorter-moi lever K,gthe topen'd of'thelst itelis thrown toward train :A', Fig. 2, and carrying its flexible reek-arms. against its :oonneeting-pinion in' train A, andwthus-setting' pointers a a tin the positions that shall indi- I cate the hour of. the (leper-hire of. thetmin named on the slats B, and so the above described movements are successively .efi'eeted as the'time for-thedepartureof-eaeh train ar- 5 WK is moved toward train: Av, ae-de g scribed; and from it,'by spiral springs f, as screwh pa 'ofl'lrom-plate H leaving-it free i td-riseup. Should. a; train. irom edistant point, which is to ststionrwherethe instminent-is-locsted, be behind ii! time, the

hands on the dial cen,--by 'serewingarm G against lever K, Fig. 2, be'anbitrarily 'set to indicate the time at which the late-trainv'vill:

leave. After having so set the hands, rode", 1

Fig. 3, (its end reaohin through thesideof I the 0930,) should be pa n, Fig. 3, end-thence with disk d,-.Fig.='3*,

thfmu the grooved screw-nut dfleauses disk d "armeon it, 4?, to movehofimtslly on arbor, andv the points of arms d to pass be- 9 Fig, they cannot unlock train A, Fig.- 3,.although train-D keeps up its regularmove-1 meets. As soon as the late train shall have 'left indicator-station the instrument is again thrown into gear, reedyvto moperlyindicombo-succeeding train, by pushing book-rod 0", drawing arm G'away from lever-K,"andi 'This,through.iis; with the lower endof bifurcated me of the ttainsfor which it may have been Having thus described my invention, what lclaimis -zv 1. In sneutomatieslly-operating time-table annuneietor, the combination of the time-train D,- Fig. 3,'moving-train.A, Fig. 3, Plate 3 cylinderB, Fig.2,geared mm A',-Fig. 2, inns 2,.hands1a' a, dial A, reversible sign-slats B, and their connecting devices, substantially as andfor thepurpose set forth. 1 2; In anuntomatically-operating instrument for the purposes specified, a time-train, D, Fig. 3,..Plete3,=incombination with arbor d, Fig. 3, disk (1, arms d, nut 11?, .catelharbor a, slideeadwhz', .elbow shsped wine a. on arbor z, and a movi11g=trein,.-A,..Fig.- 3,-Plate 3, substantially send .for the-purpose set ihrtln.

'; 3.-. Thecombination of the movingtrain A, Fig.3, Plate 3, and skeleton eylinder B,- Fig.

* fite 2, operating together, substantially. as

and for the purpose set forth.

4. Thecombination of skeletoneylinder'rB Fig. .2, Platte 2,-piston i, lever k, flexible rackerm n .gesred train rig-Fig.2, Plate 2,1mnds aJ-a, dial A, spiral springs r endf, pedals m, rodsafand 3 arms or, sectorsq, and rotating reversible sigmslets B, substantially. asand for the-purposes specified. I

. 5. The. .eombinatiomjn min-D, Fig. 3,6:

arbor d." .and its. gearrconneetion. with. said train,- disk- (1,- arms d nut (F, lever 10, ro'd cl, arbor z,slide-eatch z -,and bent arm z, as and forthe'purposes'specified.

. ii. vTheieombinetion, with tmiuA, Fig. 3,0f the disk IA, :Fig- 9, Plate 1, with its slots Hunt at equslinterval's, androd y and its connect ingelbew, and verticsl'trip-rod, substantially as and tbr the-purpose set forth. s

-' 7. i The eombinateon, in skeleton cylinder B',

Fig. 2, Platei=2, of the heads B'and B, bars -B", pedal pin-bars d",-,pins d, spring. g,;and axljnsting screws h', substantially as andfor the=purpcse mlfol'thr 1 s 8. The combination of piston'i, Fig.2, lever inflexible-mowers!" n, and spiral springs f and o, substantially as and :for the purpose set I. 9. The bent'Earm G and its adjusting-serew P, substantially-as -and=for"the:pu'rpose set forth. Z3111 Q. -10: The'combinstion of-the pedals w, rods 0, hcrizomnlrods-y, ermsm, and sectors q,-sub;-

stantially as and-fertile purpose set forth.-

r 11; The =mtating re've'rsible' sign slats-Bg Fig.1,- substuntial'lyasand for thepurpiose 12 .21he disk d,-.Fig.= 4, with its adjustable arms-41 and nut dyes and for .the purpose sp cified- 13. The arms (1 Figs. 5 and 6, with their pins 0 and slot a, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

14. The pedals 4:, Vertical rods 00, horizontal rods y, and geared sectors q, in combination with the reversible sign-slats B, reversed by spring-action following the action of the' sectors q, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. The cylinder-head B Fig. 10, with its projecting rim and its adjusting-screws h, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

16. The disk I), Fig. 9, with its slots and latches a substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

17. The pedal-pin bar d, Fig. 8, with its perforations d, Fig. 2, and the adjustable pins d, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

18. Arbor 2, Fig. 3, with its adjustable slidecatch 2, and bent arm 2 substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

19. The skeleton cylinder 13, having removable pedal-pin bars d, as and for the purpose set forth.

20. The combination of train A, Fig.3, of disk b, Fig. 9, and skeleton cylinder B, Fig. 2, Plate 1, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

21. Disk (1, train I), Fig. 3, arms (1 nut (1 bifurcated lever n, and rod 0'', combined, as and for the purpose set forth.

22. The combination of the partial and fully unlocking devices in train A, Fig. 3, with disk I), Fig. 9, the bent arm 2 arbor z, slide-catch 2, disk (1, arms (1 arbor d, and train 1), Fig. 8, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

LEWIS DART.

Witnesses W. H. CHAPIN, D. P. LILLIE. 

